Cycling new tank

Kazzykins · 12/03/2014, 07:50 PM

About to set up a 50g reef tank, will my tank "cycle" with 50lbs dry rock, live sand and 5-10 lbs of live rock from my LFS? Is it necessary to put in a shrimp? If so, how long should it be in there?

gone fishin · 12/03/2014, 07:56 PM

Drop in the shrimp. I personally like to get the ammonia up to 3-4 ppm then pull it out, others let it stay till it is gone. If you put the shrimp in a piece nylons and tie it off, it is easier to remove it if you choose to. Good luck.

Kazzykins · 12/03/2014, 08:02 PM

Okay, thank you

another question, will water changes do any good? I read somewhere to not have water changes since we want the bacteria in there.

And what temperature should i cycle my tank?

Azedenkae · 12/03/2014, 08:08 PM

If you get live rock and sand from your LFS, it can be alright. I personally just prefer to 'overload' the system at first and grow heaps of bacteria.

Like gone fishin, 3-4 ppm is what I'd aim for too. Or even higher. My ammonia was off the charts when I did my cycling. I pureed seafood and spreaded it all over the tank, so it was very well distributed, and lot's of organic matter went all over. High ammonia is an indication of that.

gone fishin · 12/03/2014, 08:13 PM

No water changes until you are done with the cycle. Ammonia, Nitrite are zero. Nitrates will come down to some number then do the WC.

Kazzykins · 12/03/2014, 08:38 PM

Thanks, Azedenkae and gone fishin

i actually read 2 of your articles regarding on tank cycling haha. Good read

Azedenkae · 12/03/2014, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kazzykins

Thanks, Azedenkae and gone fishin

i actually read 2 of your articles regarding on tank cycling haha. Good read

Haha, great to hear it was a good read.

Hopefully it was of good help as well. If you have any questions about the articles, lemme know, or post directly in the blog.

Kazzykins · 12/03/2014, 08:48 PM

Haha i do have 1 more question

confirming the temperature should be 27 degrees celsius and not 33? Thank you for all the help

gone fishin · 12/03/2014, 08:57 PM

Anywhere between 25-27 will be good.

Azedenkae · 12/03/2014, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kazzykins

Haha i do have 1 more question

confirming the temperature should be 27 degrees celsius and not 33? Thank you for all the help

27 degrees is fine, but if you want to promote bacterial growth, above 30 is best.

Of course that may make certain critters on the live rock unhappy tho.

wcarterh · 12/03/2014, 10:17 PM

You MAY want more than that of live rock at least for purifying purposes. Though it varies on how much each person puts in the tank. Just make sure to put all the live rock you want in at one time. Otherwise you could have a mini-cycle, and with livestock, that's bad juju.

12/03/2014, 07:50 PM	#1
Kazzykins Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 10	Cycling new tank About to set up a 50g reef tank, will my tank "cycle" with 50lbs dry rock, live sand and 5-10 lbs of live rock from my LFS? Is it necessary to put in a shrimp? If so, how long should it be in there?

12/03/2014, 07:56 PM	#2
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Drop in the shrimp. I personally like to get the ammonia up to 3-4 ppm then pull it out, others let it stay till it is gone. If you put the shrimp in a piece nylons and tie it off, it is easier to remove it if you choose to. Good luck. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

12/03/2014, 08:13 PM	#5
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	No water changes until you are done with the cycle. Ammonia, Nitrite are zero. Nitrates will come down to some number then do the WC. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

12/03/2014, 08:57 PM	#9
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Anywhere between 25-27 will be good. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

12/03/2014, 10:17 PM	#11
wcarterh Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Tn, USA Posts: 238	You MAY want more than that of live rock at least for purifying purposes. Though it varies on how much each person puts in the tank. Just make sure to put all the live rock you want in at one time. Otherwise you could have a mini-cycle, and with livestock, that's bad juju. __________________ The devil is in the details. Current Tank Info: 68 Gal with 20 gal sump.

12/03/2014, 08:02 PM	#3
Kazzykins Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 10	Okay, thank you another question, will water changes do any good? I read somewhere to not have water changes since we want the bacteria in there. And what temperature should i cycle my tank?

12/03/2014, 08:08 PM	#4
Azedenkae Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,196	If you get live rock and sand from your LFS, it can be alright. I personally just prefer to 'overload' the system at first and grow heaps of bacteria. Like gone fishin, 3-4 ppm is what I'd aim for too. Or even higher. My ammonia was off the charts when I did my cycling. I pureed seafood and spreaded it all over the tank, so it was very well distributed, and lot's of organic matter went all over. High ammonia is an indication of that.

12/03/2014, 08:38 PM	#6
Kazzykins Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 10	Thanks, Azedenkae and gone fishin i actually read 2 of your articles regarding on tank cycling haha. Good read

12/03/2014, 08:48 PM	#8
Kazzykins Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 10	Haha i do have 1 more question confirming the temperature should be 27 degrees celsius and not 33? Thank you for all the help